Two Library Lovin' Sisters Are:

Leslie Roberts Clingan, the slightly older, slightly crazier sister.

Bachelor of Science in Art Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1979

Master's in Library and Information Science, University of North Texas, Denton, 2008

​Leslie Roberts Clingan was born two years before her sister in Buffalo, New York. After a short stay in Boston, Massachusetts, she moved to Memphis, Tennessee where she grew up. Leslie got her degree in Art Education at University of Tennessee with a Minor in Library Science. Leslie and her exhusband spent two tours of duty in Panama before landing permanently in El Paso. She has two daughters, Brennyn and Lauren, who each have a daughter of their own.

Leslie is known for the television show “Come Read With Me”, which she hosted during her days in El Paso ISD. Although the program ended in 2004, it’s 10 years of shows can still be seen by El Paso children today. She is often recognized by two different generations when she is out and about.

Leslie still lives in El Paso with her husband Paul and her two “kiddens” Purrsnickitty and Purrsimmony. She has shared her love of reading and children’s books with the students in El Paso ISD for the past 27 years. During that time she was Teacher of the Year and on the Bluebonnet committee for Texas Library Association. Two years ago, she retired from EPISD. It did not take her long to get bored with retirement and she recently headed back into the library as a part time long term substitute. Leslie and her sister presented at the 2012 TLA convention and are thrilled to be presenting the books and lessons she loves again this year.

Bachelor of Science in Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1981

Master's in Reading, University of Houston, 1990

Librarian certification, University North Texas

​Meet my sister Valerie. I am writing this ‘About Me’ for her and she for me and we are relearning all about each other in the process. Valerie has been a librarian for 8 years, she thinks. Before that she was a first grade teacher for five and a reading specialist for six. She’s a better woman that I am.

Apparently, she was an education major from the get-go because it was something one could major in without taking calculus. (I signed up for the summer’s off…no calculus was an unrealized bonus).

When I asked about her favorite thing about being a librarian, Valerie replied, “By far being with the kids and legally being able to act like one. I love reading picture books aloud to my kids when I can do voices. I also love dancing with the little ones.” Two fine examples that support what she loves best about being a librarian.

Valerie lived with me, our brother and our parents in Memphis, Tennessee for the majority of her childhood. She attended and graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with her degree in education and then moved to Texas where she has lived ever since with the exception of an eighteen-month stint with her family as Aussies Down Hunder.

Valerie has been married to her husband Roby for 22 years and together they have an Earthly son Trey and a Heavenly son Andrew. Valerie, Roby and Trey lost Andrew to Wilm’s Tumor, cancer of the kidney, at age three and have been involved in Relay for Life for many years in an effort to support a cure for cancer, once and for all. Donations welcomed.

Valerie and her sister (me) presented at TLA in 2012 and had such that they (we) are back again this year to share our favorite lessons and library activities.